My thanks to Sylvain for the beta work.

Face to Face

Part 51

Jackson had to admit to being both annoyed and disappointed with Aaron. Ok, so he didn't know the circumstances behind the fight but, no matter what they turned out to be, he was certain they weren't worth Aaron being arrested over. He and Carl had had a fist fight some time back and that had resulted in Chas laying down the law to Carl, the outcome being hostilities had come to an end, he and Aaron had even been on polite speaking terms. Carl's recent affair had infuriated Aaron, but he'd promised all concerned he would avoid a confrontation at all costs. Their paths hadn't crossed at all up until today but it seemed that as soon as they had come face to face, his temper had got the better of him. He could understand Aaron being angry with Carl, he'd hurt his mother emotionally but, wasn't the fact a relationship he didn't like or respect was now over enough for him? Obviously not.

Chas had said both she and Paddy were at the police station where Aaron was now being questioned. She was expecting him to go too, but he wasn't sure he should, not the mood he was in. He loved Aaron but, right now, he was angry with him, he kept asking himself why he'd let that tosspot bring him down to that level. Had he not stopped to think about the consequences of his actions? He can't have done. He already had a conviction for assault, if this went to court he could well go to prison this time. It wouldn't come to that though, would it? He just didn't know, but one thing he did know was that just the idea of that happening scared him.

He carried on with his work, he was behind as it was, he'd had so many delays today, and time wise he really couldn't afford another one. But as the minutes passed by, his anger subsided, and he started to worry about Aaron, he knew he'd be regretting what had happened, would be disappointed in himself. No one knew Aaron better than he did, they had been through so much together, and he knew just how sensitive, how deep, how intense his emotions could be. He would be feeling very alone right now, alone and scared, Aaron needed him there.

/

Aaron stared at the clock on the interview room wall, he'd been at the police station ages now and it didn't look like he'd be leaving anytime soon. The officer questioning him kept disappearing, leaving the room to deal with other things. He got the feeling he was a complication the Hotton Constabulary could well do without, that they had more important things to deal with. He was sure they did have too, but he hadn't asked them to get involved, it was the last thing he'd wanted to happen.

He shook his head as yet another wave of disappointment in himself washed over him. After all he'd promised, he'd got into a fight with Carl! Jimmy had appeared out of nowhere and had hauled him off his brother… but not before some passing motorist, some interfering old biddy had called the police. Jimmy had seemed to accept what he told him, that Carl had been goading him but the two police officers who arrived at the scene had, after speaking to the witness and to Carl, arrested him. He knew the fact that he was still angry and shouting the odds at Carl hadn't helped his case, or the fact he'd ignored all their pleas to calm down. They'd lost patience with him eventually... and then he'd resisted arrest!

What had finally cooled his courage, what had finally drained the fight out of him was the smirk he'd seen on Carl's face as he was being driven away. It had made him feel sick to the stomach knowing he'd made Carl's day!

He hadn't wanted the police to know everything, what he thought was a private family matter. But knowing he needed to be honest, had told them the bare minimum, only what they needed to know. The police could see it hadn't been all one-sided, he had a bloody nose and split lip, too. He really didn't care what the police thought or whether they charged him or not… well he did, of course he did, but he was more worried about Jackson, about his reaction. He knew he'd let him down, and Paddy and his mam ... and Hazel! What was she going to think of him now?

/

On seeing Jackson walk into Hotton police station, Paddy got to his feet to greet him, "He's still being questioned."

"So, what happened?" Chas had been upset and her explanation garbled, maybe Paddy could shine a better light on things.

"Jimmy found Aaron laying into Carl, that's more or less all we know."

"So, Jimmy phoned the police?" That didn't sound like Jimmy, he was fair-minded, knew his brother was often the antagonist, and being well aware of that, he'd purposefully tried to keep him away from Aaron.

"No, some interfering old bat did!" Chas exclaimed. "If she hadn't stuck her nose in, my lad wouldn't be here..."

Jackson listened as Chas gave her take on the matter. She seemed to think such a confrontation was inevitable, that it had always been on the cards and was needed to clear the air, and that once Aaron and Carl had knocked seven bells out of each other, they could move on. But the police getting involved had taken it to another level, Aaron could be in deep shit, and if so then the ill feeling would now linger on, festering away. Jackson hated to admit it but, he could see there was a lot of truth in that.

A strained silence had followed, small talk forsaken as they all lost themselves in their own thoughts. One long half hour later, Aaron stepped out from a side room. On seeing them, he hesitated, his gaze moving sheepishly between the three of them before saying a quiet but heartfelt, "Sorry."

He was obviously expecting a rollicking from each of them, and Jackson supposed they'd all been intending to do just that but, now he was standing there, looking so dejected, so wary of them, well... it just wasn't going to happen. The fact he'd been released with just a caution helped, the relief proving overwhelming.

Once outside, Paddy and Chas had got in their car, giving the two of them some privacy. Aaron immediately launching into another apology.

"Jackson, I'm sorry, I..."

"I know you are, I know how determined you were not to let such a thing happen. But it has and now you really do have to put it behind you, we all do."

"You're not mad at me?"

"I was but not anymore." He could never stay mad at Aaron for long, he loved him too much.

"What's your mum going to say?"

He couldn't help but grin as he remembered his earlier phone conversation with his mother, "She's in a fighting mood herself today!"

"What?"

"She's fallen out with one of my neighbours. Look, don't worry about her, she's not going to hold it against you..."

"Yeah, well, she has forgiven me a lot worse!"

"Aaron, don't... " He knew Aaron was referring to the time he'd punched him. That he'd started to reproach himself for all the wrongs he'd done. "Don't beat yourself up about this, learn from it and put it behind you, please."

"But if they'd pressed charges, if it had gone to court..."

"They didn't and it won't, so stop with the 'ifs'. Come on, it's over with now, so like I said, put it behind you, look ahead and there's plenty to look forward to, isn't there? A baby brother or sister for one thing." He felt certain that would put a smile on Aaron's face... and it did.

/

Jackson had returned to work and Aaron had travelled back to Emmerdale with his mum and Paddy. He'd apologized to them again too, but they were both in the same mind, they both blamed Carl for the fight and again made him promise to ignore anything he might say about them or about anything likely to wind him up.

He really had got away lightly, no charges made against him and no telling offs or tongue lashings. As for Jackson, well he'd not given him the hard time he'd been expecting either, he'd gone all out to lift his spirits. There would definitely not be a next time where Carl was concerned, he really was just a waste of space, his mother had finally realised that and that was all that mattered.

He'd insisted on going back to work and they'd dropped him off there, someone had locked the garage up, the note on the door telling him where to find the keys... Jimmy had them!

After reasoning Carl wouldn't be there, he traipsed up to Jimmy's office, the older man lurching to his feet on seeing him. He was apologetic, saying he knew his brother was both jealous and bitter when it came to Chas and Paddy, that he knew who was to blame for the fight. Because Jimmy wanted to try and prevent any further unpleasantness, he'd sent Carl off on a run to France, and had told him not to come back until he'd sorted his head out. He thanked Jimmy, he knew he had a lot to thank him for, for understanding, for trying to stop things deteriorating further and for giving them a little breathing space, between everything, they needed it.

/

It was well over a week since his fight with Carl, and word was he was back. That one fact altered the atmosphere, nothing was said but Aaron could tell everyone was edgy. His mother in particular was affected, her morning sickness having lasted all day.

The pregnancy was still being kept a secret and would be for another few weeks. A few people had already guessed though, the fact his mam was forever in the loo and only drinking soft drinks when at the Wooly had given the game away to some, namely Charity and Pearl.

They were pleased and excited for her and also a little suspicious... well, both having had kids they knew about such things, and it seemed they'd all thought along the same lines as his mam had done... had wondered if the baby could be Carl's. But a man wouldn't think that way, would he? It wouldn't occur to Carl would it?

Aaron told himself not to dwell on that now, not to let it spoil their evening. They were all at the Woolpack, his mam, Paddy, Jackson and Hazel. They were there celebrating Hazel's new job, she'd that very day secured a part time post at Hotton Comp. They were all pleased for her, especially Jackson, he knew she needed something to keep her occupied, to help burn off some of her energy.

They'd sat at a rear corner table, and as the drinks flowed it had got a bit noisy, their presence unmissable. His mother wasn't drinking but, at last having some relief from the nausea that had plagued her all day, she was feeding off the high spirits and her voice soared above everyone else's. He was standing by the bar when she'd suddenly fallen quiet, as he'd turned around, he'd realised why, Carl and Eve and just walked into the pub.

Even though Eve was draped possessively over Carl, he still had the nerve to look in his mam's direction, his gaze lingering way to long on her. So much for sorting his head out! Aaron told himself to ignore Carl, no matter what he said or did, just like he'd promised everyone he would.

It seemed Eve couldn't ignore his behaviour though and the next thing Aaron knew, she was giving Carl grief, asking him why he was looking at 'that minger'.

He'd hoped his mother hadn't heard her but of course she had and was soon on her feet firing an insult in Eve's direction. For a minute or so, the two women traded insults, the whole pub looking on in stunned silence. But then Paddy was on his feet trying to calm Chas down, which was easier said than done, he and her were a lot alike.

Paddy's intervention had broken the spell and suddenly others were getting involved, Chartity having a pop at Eve, Diane making it clear she would stand for no trouble... then suddenly his mam went quiet, and with one hand clamped over her mouth made a dash for the 'Ladies', Chartity fast on her heels.

Eve then made some comment about her drinking too much, about her being some old lush, he'd opened his mouth to tell her to shut up but then Paddy's voice, filled with indignation, had echoed around the room, "She's not drunk, she's pregnant!"

Aaron immediately looked at Carl, he couldn't help himself, he wanted to see his reaction. At first, Carl looked shocked, then amused like he couldn't believe it, but then he'd turned serious, his gaze moving to him. "So who's the father? Me... or that clown over there?"

TBC